Good news in the Lua house!

We've have a week filled with good news. First of all, I had my 20 week ultrasound on Monday and the baby is looking great! The baby is measuring a week ahead and the u/s tech showed a due date of Dec. 4, but I'm not sure my doctor will actually change the date since it's so arbitrary to begin with. But I'll find out for sure next week. The baby is weighing about 15oz and growing right on schedule. I haven't heard from my doctor, so I'm guessing there isn't anything to be concerned about. And we did stay yellow team. Sorry to all those who thought we might cave.

Second, Lexi has decided she wants to potty train! We started last week and today is day 6 (!!) without accidents. *knock on wood*. She's taken this on like a pro and is so proud of herself. And I guess the bribing with candy doesn't hurt either, lol. She's still in pull-ups at night, but I can deal with that. Now, she can start both school and ballet next month AND I'll only have one in diapers come December.

And lastly, Nacho got a new job! We haven't really talked much about this because frankly, it's starting to feel like a broken record. Nacho left his job at Accuchex last year because he had been recommended for a job elsewhere with better pay and benefits. He thought he was doing what was best for his family and at the time I supported him completely. Turns out he ended up miserable at the new place and as our luck has seemed to be, he found out about 2 months ago that they were being sold and he would be losing his position. (That would make 5 places since 2002 that have closed/sold). It seemed like a blessing in disguise because he was so unhappy there, but the job market is tough and his last day of July 31st was quickly approaching. A little bit stressful to say the least considering we're a one income family and I'm pregnant making private health insurance hard (and expensive) to get. Well, as luck would have it, Accuchex called him and was interested in bringing him back! He found out yesterday that he will start there August 1st, with benefits starting for all of us Sept. 1st. So congrats Nacho!

Our anniversary

Yesterday was our anniversary - 9 years! Can you believe it? We went out to a wonderful dinner at the Melting Pot, sans kids. It's not often we go out to dinner with out the girls, so this was a nice treat. The Melting Pot is a fondue restaurant and it is soooo good! I would highly recommend it. We ordered their Big Night Out dinner which is four courses and so much food - cheese fondue of your choice, salad of your choice, a whole meat selection (ours had pork, two types of steak, chicken and shrimp) with a dozen or so dipping sauces and then of course the chocolate fondue of your choice (we did the Yin & Yang, which is dark chocolate and white chocolate), which in my opinion is the whole reason to go. I ate so much I told Nacho he could just roll me home.

Whirlwind of Activity

We returned from Boston just about two weeks ago, but it's been crazy ever since we got back. Right after we got home, we headed up to Shasta to see my dad and Leann, which was so much fun. Luckily, except for some bad air (smokey) the fires haven't affected them too much. Then Nacho took my grandparents down to Santa Barbara for a few days for a funeral. I'd like to say that we're staying home for awhile, but we just found out we're heading to Seattle for a weekend in two weeks. And then we have our last Disneyland trip before our passes expire in August. BUT after that, things will be settling down around here as we await the arrival of our little one in December.

The Boston trip was wonderful and for anybody wondering the girls did fabulous on the red-eye out. The fell asleep 1/2 hour into the flight and we had to wake them up on landing. Of course that meant I was pinned to my seat by their little heads all night. We got to do and see so much and I still feel like we only saw a fraction of the city. We did take two side trips, one to Salem and one to Cape Cod...I liked Cape Cod better, but I'm sure Salem would be great if we didn't have two little girls who were completely terrified of witches. I'm so glad we went and that we took the extra time to really explore the city. For anybody who might be interested in pictures and didn't get my email of them, here is a link:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BZOGzdqzbMdA

Traveling

Right I'm procrasting on our packing, even though we leave tomorrow. First of all, wish us luck because we're flying to the east coast on a red-eye. This will either work perfectly or I'll regret it forever. I've told both girls many times that we need to sleep when we get on the plane and I have their blankets, little pillows and lovies ready, so hopefully they go with the plan. But now on to my vent about traveling. We're going to the east coast for 10 days. We're a family of 4. Now that so many airlines are implementing the first bag charge, how are families, or anybody for that matter, supposed to travel? Luckily, we booked these tickets before the change and I don't think our airline has actually made it, but it still pisses me off. The second bag charge, while I don't like it, I can understand. But the first bag? Really? Since we're only allowed a total of 4 quart size bags (1 for each of us) with bottles under 3oz, I can't pack all of our toiletries in our carry on, which means I have to pack a checked bag. Oh and let's not forget that that checked bag has to be under 50lbs or you get charged. Why can't they just add the first bag charge to price of the ticket, where I won't really notice it? They still get their money and I won't be so pissed off thinking I'm getting dinged for something stupid.

Official Announcement

So now that I'm officially in my second trimester and we've now had two ultrasounds, I guess it's time to make the official announcement that we're expecting Baby Lua #3!! Now if you've seen or talked to Samantha in the last three months then you already know, since she has told everybody. Heck she was even telling people before we knew I was pregnant. To answer the most common questions - baby is due Dec. 10th, I'm hoping closer to Thanksgiving than Christmas, we will stay yellow team again this time (not finding out the gender until the birth), no we are trying for a boy (we'll be happy with either!) and we don't have any names picked out yet. Both girls are completely excited and are eagerly anticipating the new arrival. Although they're having a really hard time with the concept of another 6 months, so we just keep telling them after the Christmas tree goes up. I hope they don't think right after. Uh oh, I might have some more explaining to do to them as it gets closer. Oh and I'm 99.9% sure Thanksgiving will NOT be at our house this year - at least not the size it was last year. So we'll keep you updated as the pregnancy progresses. The picture is from the latest ultrasound with the baby waving hello - sorry it's not clear but the baby wouldn't sit still much.

Oh, they make me laugh

Samatha has a memory like none other. It's actually scary sometimes and we've learned never to promise anything we may not follow through with because she will remember. Case in point, driving home last week Nacho and I were having a discussion about languages and about assuming certain people speak a language other than English. Sam pipes up from the back seat and tells that Isabella speaks English. I start wracking my brain for somebody she goes to school with named Isabella and I come up with nothing. Finally she says "remember Mom, Isabella is Daddy's boss. We met her once." Ok. We did meet her once, in November, for about 30 seconds. How does she remember this? The funniest part of all of it though? Nacho has worked with her for 10 months, each and every day and still calls her Elizabeth.

Alexandra has transitioned to a toddler bed and it's going great! The other night I hear wimpering from her room so I go in to make sure she's ok. This is how our conversation went:

Me: What's wrong sweetheart?
Lexi: Nothing
Me: Are you sure?
Lexi: I crying
Me: Why?
Lexi: Cause I sad
Me: Why?
Lexi: Cause I not ok
Me: Why?
Lexi: Cause I want to go to school

So I tried to explain to her again that she needs to start going on the potty to go to school and ballet. Since nothing has changed I'm guessing she's ignoring me or just doesn't care. Somebody else feel like trying to explain to her because she is still upset that she isn't going to school.

Preschool Promotion

Ok, let me start by saying in theory I think the promotion thing has a gotten a little out of hand. BUT, when it's my child it's absolutely adorable and wonderful. Of course, Samantha isn't actually going onto Kindergarten next year, but she had fun none the less. Her preschool held their promotion on Tuesday, where they sang and danced for us, got some certificates and we all ate cake. Not a bad day. Samantha sang all the songs perfectly, but decided for some reason not do any of the accompanying hand movements/dance. When I asked her about it she said she's waiting until it's her turn to go to Kindergarten and then she'll do them. So next year, I'm expecting a big show from her :) Today is their last day of school and I never thought I'd be so excited about it, but I am. Luckily we have a trip planned in two weeks or I think she'd be lost.